Facts again, for fun.. Sleepless in The Show Grounds

Here's another example of my great luck in the horse business. I had been thinking on becoming an "A" show groom to further my training/riding education. I was teaching at a "B" Class Stable, and wanted to learn more about how the big guys did it. I was still in University, but needed a semester or two off, due to extreme culture shock. It was a real experience, going as a Very mature 21 year old student, with kids fresh-faced out of high school, into first year calculus. Since I didn't drink alcohol, I was basically an alien being:) Of course, I had always felt like that, so it was no big deal. Social graces weren't way up on my list of accomplishments.
So, I went to a few "A" shows, and watched a trainer who was winning, a lot. The other trainers seemed to show deference to him. I figured, hey, he must be good. Now, I must say I learned a bit with this guy, like how to work 22 hour days, braid 14 horses before 6 am, get 14 horses ready to go to the ring, and bring up 7 at a time, for the trainer to show. I worked my absolute ass off. I was just getting over mononucleosis, can you imagine? "Mono" was also part of why I had to take a few semesters off from university.
It turned out this "trainer" had bought some very nice horses, and they won with him. He hadn't trained them. I learned about tack-nosebands and standing martingales from him. Not good. One horse (that I later rode), was regularly taken in to the arena, and no-one was allowed in to watch what went on. The horse would come out absolutely dripping sweat. Another nice horse, owned by a spoiled brat rich kid, developed a nodding/twitching/flipping-head habit. I knew when it had started. The "groom" aka AssHat I worked with, had punched the horse in the nose, straight up towards the horses' ears. The poor horses' "tick" started immediately. After the show, I told the trainer what had happened. He just tightened up the nose-band. Much later, I asked a good vet if permanent damage could be done from such an injury. Of course, the answer was yes.
I was just a groom. The horse never did do much, and he was a talented critter, before he was punched.
I sure didn't do much learning on how to ride, with this trainer guy. Fortunately, by going to these shows, I did get to watch the really great trainers riding and training. It was tough to do though, given how little time I had to myself.
I remember the first "A" show I was grooming at, and going to the Show office to get the entries done. Upon mentioning my new employer to the staff, I was met with very sympathetic, pitiful looks. Gr8:)
There was one particular horse in the show string that I was crazy about. I loved this horse. Bright Solid Red Chestnut TB gelding, very fine and slim, great jump, sweet, shy personality. I would have given a weeks salary to ride him. My trainer said, at one show, that I could warm the horse up. I was in HEAVEN getting the horse ready for my honour of riding him. Trainer took the honour away, fifteen minutes later. "Oh, I've changed my MIND, spoiled rich kid can warm him up." People like that don't see the workers' face falling, and the tightened smile of extreme disappointment. Another spoiled amateur owner complained to my boss, at one really busy show, that I hadn't hand walked her horse by a certain time. That was one of my "14 horses to do in the morning" days. She'd been in the stands gossiping, the whole freakin' time. Just too darned busy to look at her horse. The horse colicked a little, which of course, was MY fault:) It's so tough when you don't have 12 hands.
OK, I guess I did learn a bit more about economic class structure. Time management. Tight show-braids, not itchy all day. Clean as a whistle horses and tack. Bandaging. Longing at 5am, so the ammie owners wouldn't fall off.
And how to stay awake, for days and days at a time:) I'll bet, through show season, I averaged 14 hours sleep, a week.
I get tired now, just thinking about it:)
Good night!